National Wildlife Areas

Some of Canada’s best wildlife habitat has been set aside in a network of 51 National Wildlife Areas (NWAs) and 92 Migratory Bird Sanctuaries (MBSs) that span all provinces and territories. This protected areas network is managed by Environment Canada and is critical to Canada’s efforts to conserve biodiversity:

Refuge for Species at RiskMore than half of these areas provide a home for species at risk of extinction, such as polar bears, monarch butterflies, and burrowing owls. Ontario’s Long Point NWA alone is home to 31 species at risk.

What is the difference between a National Park, a National Wildlife Area and a Migratory Bird Sanctuary?
National Parks protect representative samples of each of Canada’s natural regions, whereas NWAs and MBSs protect habitat for specific wildlife species.

National Wildlife Areas are owned by the federal government and conserve essential habitat for migratory birds, species at risk and other wildlife.

Migratory Bird Sanctuaries include a mix of public and private lands, and generally only focus on protecting birds and their breeding grounds during the nesting season.